May 18, 2012

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Split Commission Plans Tax Hike, Employee Raises

SNOW HILL -- Employees of Worcester County will likely be seeing their first raise in three years this budget cycle while the property tax rate is set to increase 7 cents. However, neither event is guaranteed as the county budget still has to pass a final vote June 5. Though the tax hike has been considered by many on the commission and the community a forgone conclusion in a year filled with increasing financial demands from the state, both decisions left the County Commission divided. The...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Accident In West OC Involves Overturned Truck

BERLIN -- Traffic was snarled along Route 50 in West Ocean City this afternoon when an eastbound dump truck collided with a passenger car and veered off into a ditch, spilling much of its cargo on the side of the road. Around midday on Wednesday, a dump truck carrying a large cargo of sand and soil was heading east on Route 50 approaching the intersection with Route 611 when it collided with a passenger vehicle driven by a local man, who was reportedly attempting to make a left turn onto Route...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Worcester Goes Outside System For New Superintendent

BERLIN -- The Worcester County Board of Education has appointed Dr. Jerry Wilson as Superintendent of Schools, pending certification approval by the Maryland State Department of Education. Wilson will assume the position on July 1, 2012. “I am excited to be given the opportunity to serve as Superintendent in Worcester County, an outstanding school district renowned for high levels of performance,” said Wilson. “My wife Liz and I are looking forward to meeting the educational...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Council Shaves Penny Off Proposed Tax Rate

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council cast their final vote last night to adopt the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, including a one-cent decrease from the proposed property tax rate, which will save the average taxpayer $20 but cost the town $863,000. A couple of weeks ago, the budget reached first reading with a tax rate set at the constant yield rate of 0.4685 per $100 of assessed valuation of real property. Councilman Joe Hall made a motion to amend the budget and reduce the tax rate by one...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Local Man On Mend After Scooter Accident

OCEAN CITY -- A popular local man is on the mend this week after suffering critical injuries when struck by a vehicle on Coastal Highway while riding a scooter last Friday afternoon. Around 2:45 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police responded to the area of 45th Street and Coastal Highway for a reported motor vehicle accident involving a scooter. When officers arrived on the scene, they observed the operator of the scooter, later identified as long-time city employee and local youth lacrosse coach...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: Students Send Sports Equipment To Guatamala Village

OCEAN CITY -- Underprivileged children in Pasajoc, a small village in Guatamala, have been given the opportunity to enjoy sports that have never been available to them before, thanks in large part of students at several local schools. Under the direction of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS), the Sammy Wilkinson Memorial Foundation’s Global Gear Drive, an effort to collect new and used sporting goods from in and around the resort area to send to less fortunate children around...READ MORE

Mathias, McDermott Vote Against Income Tax Hike

BERLIN -- State lawmakers this week passed a fiscal year 2013 budget and revenue plan left on the table at the 11th hour of this year’s General Assembly session, but many believe the so-called “doomsday budget” triggered by default at the session’s close would have been better for the people of the Lower Shore. When the 2012 session expired in April, the General Assembly could not reach a consensus on O’Malley’s ambitious income tax increase plan or the Budget...READ MORE

OC Seat Belt Operation Leads To Drugs, Gun

OCEAN CITY -- A “Click It or Ticket” enforcement detail conducted by Ocean City Police last Sunday morning resulted in a significant drug bust including the recovery of a loaded handgun. Around 11 a.m., police were conducting a “Click It or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement detail as part of a national campaign in the area of 33rd Street and Baltimore Ave. During the operation, OCPD officers stopped a vehicle for having four unrestrained adults and a 1-year-old infant. During...READ MORE

Downtown Berlin To Offer Free Wireless Access

BERLIN -- Downtown Berlin will be connecting in a whole new way now that town officials are moving forward with the expansion of free wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet service to most of the commercial district. Originally suggested by Councilwoman Lisa Hall last autumn, Mayor Gee Williams revealed that Berlin has looked into offering free Wi-Fi before but always balked at the price. However, a recent estimate from NGX Grid, a Virginia firm based, has made Wi-Fi coverage a much more palatable...READ MORE

Theft Alleged By Shelter Worker

WEST OCEAN CITY -- A former Worcester County Humane Society employee this week was charged with theft after allegedly absconding with under $500 in funds from the agency over a five-month period starting earlier this year. Over the course of the last five months, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives have conducted multiple investigations into the alleged activities of former Humane Society employee Meggin Lynn McKnight, 33, of West Ocean City. In February, for example, the...READ MORE

Route 54 Project On Target To Meet Deadline

FENWICK -- After nearly two years of prolonged delays, it now appears construction along Route 54 will be completed in time for Memorial Day weekend, although there is still much work to complete over the next week. Last month, a petition was circulated among Route 54 residents and business owners calling for a guarantee the road construction project that began nearly two years ago would be complete by Memorial Day weekend. In the weeks since, nearly 3,000 Fenwick area residents and business...READ MORE

Council Surprises Abbott With Tourism Post

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council unexpectedly announced an in-house promotion on Tuesday to fill the vacant tourism director post. Communications Manager Donna Abbott, who had been serving as acting tourism director since Deb Turk’s resignation earlier this year, was taken by surprise when Mayor Rick Meehan announced that she had been appointed that day as Ocean City’s new tourism director. According to the mayor, the town received 98 applicants for the position and the...READ MORE

OC Holds Meeting To Clarify Street Performer Rules

OCEAN CITY -- Fresh off a victory in a federal lawsuit against the resort last fall, street performers will be back in force along the Boardwalk this season and the city is already taking a “if you can’t beat them, join them” stance. Last Thursday, Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and members of her staff, along with City Solicitor Guy Ayres, hosted a meeting with concerned citizens and Boardwalk area business owners in an effort to clarify the regulations governing...READ MORE

County Schools Going High Speed

SNOW HILL -- Learning is about to get a little faster with broadband slated to connect Worcester County schools by September 2013. According to the Board of Education, that’s great news considering the underwhelming performance of the current Internet service at some schools. “We’re really been struggling to provide reliable service,” said Assistant Superintendent for Administration Ed Barber. One Maryland Broadband Network (OMBN) recently received a $115 million federal...READ MORE

Worcester Gets $75K Irene Reimbursement

SNOW HILL -- Nine months after Hurricane Irene cut through Worcester County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reimbursed the county $75,694 for storm damages and preventive services. That figure represents 75 percent of the roughly $100,000 cost of Irene to the county. Specific county agencies such as the Board of Education and Health Department received their own separate compensation. “This was not an easy process,” said Emergency Services Director Teresa...READ MORE

Ocean City’s Critical Area Law Tweaked

OCEAN CITY – To comply with state law, the town’s Critical Area ordinance regarding the redevelopment of a property was tweaked this week. City Engineer Terry McGean asked the Mayor and City Council to draft an amendment to the town’s Critical Areas ordinance to reflect a couple of changes, including to codify the current staffs interpretation that allows redevelopment projects disturbing less than 50 percent of the parcel to maintain existing encroachments into the critical...READ MORE

Salisbury Scores Skate Park Grant

SALISBURY -- Salisbury officials announced yesterday the city had secured a $262,000 state grant for the development of a skate park, ending a five-year effort to secure the funds. Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton, Jr. on Thursday announced the $262,000 grant through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Community Parks and Playgrounds Program for phase I of the development of a long-awaited skate park, the planning for which began in 2007. The proposed location is on the edge of the City...READ MORE

Regional Digest

School Board Member Resigns SALISBURY -- Wicomico County Board of Education member L. Michelle Wright, a member of the Board since 2006, announced last week she is resigning effective June 30 citing concerns about the financial disclosure requirements. In a letter of resignation sent on May 8, Wright thanked Gov. Martin O’Malley for re-appointing her last year. She said that while she intended to serve her full five-year term through 2016, new financial disclosure requirements in the...READ MORE

Mayor Requests Support For New City Manager

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Council remained divided on a new employment agreement with new City Manager David Recor Tuesday, but the seven members did commit to a symbolic show of support for the resort’s new chief executive. In a closed meeting prior to this week’s work session, the council voted 4-3 -- Brent Ashley, Jim Hall, Joe Hall and Margaret Pillas in support and Doug Cymek, Mary Knight and Lloyd Martin opposed -- to accept an employment agreement with Recor. After the vote...READ MORE

Salisbury Moves Redistricting Process Forward

SALISBURY – Two weeks past the deadline to complete election redistricting, the Salisbury City Council this week sat down to take into consideration revised maps that addressed different parties’ concerns and took a vote to move forward with a final decision. Election redistricting is a result of the recently taken Census. Salisbury’s population has grown to 30,607 in the last 10 years and minorities make up 44 percent of the city’s population. The current election system...READ MORE

Google Photo Team Working OC

OCEAN CITY – The Google Business View Photo Team is in Ocean City expanding its search engine website by creating virtual tours of local participating businesses. The team shoots pictures of businesses creating a virtual tour to be placed on their Google Places page as part of search results within Google Maps. Businesses can also add the tour to their own personal websites. On Monday morning, the team started with a photo shoot of the Clarion Hotel and had plans to move onto Old Pro Golf...READ MORE

Adventures Of Fatherhood

At times, as my kids grow and mature, life with them seems like an out-of-control train. No matter how much I want to slow down time, there’s nothing stopping them from continuing to grow and change. Rather than dwelling on how fast time seems to be flying by, I have been thinking about what I’m not going to miss about these younger years. I realize, of course, years from now I’m going to think fondly back on some of the hairy situations that currently stress me out. Time has a...READ MORE

Parent, School Embroiled In Bullying Allegations

BERLIN -- Both sides sought to clear the air this week after an ad published in this newspaper made allegations of misconduct against two Stephen Decatur High School (SDHS) coaches and a cover-up by its principal. Last week, a full-page advertisement in The Dispatch claimed that SDHS baseball coaches Rich Ferro and Garrett Magaha have recently “verbally abused … and degraded” some of their players and invited parents to join a newly formed support group, Parents Against...READ MORE

Suspect Chases Jogger with Truck

SALISBURY -- A Salisbury man was arrested on attempted murder and other charges last week after attempting to run over a jogger who allegedly tried to pepper-spray his dog. Around 7 a.m. last Wednesday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a reported altercation on Ward Rd. in Salisbury. The investigation revealed a resident identified as Craig Jones, 50, of Salisbury, became enraged when a jogger attempted to pepper-spray his dog after the animal chased the runner. According to...READ MORE

OC Reef Foundation Aims To Bury Fish Hotels, Oyster Castles

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Reef Foundation continues to build artificial reefs throughout Ocean City’s surrounding waters to support local fisheries and the eco system. That effort will be seeking a funding injection on Wednesday when the foundation holds a benefit at Hall’s Restaurant. The Ocean City Reef Foundation was established in 1997. It is dedicated to the Sustained Improvement of Recreational Fishing and Diving in Maryland's Coastal Waters through Habitat Management,...READ MORE

Q&A With New City Manager David Recor

Eight months after the City Council voted to dismiss long-time City Manager Dennis Dare, David Recor was officially hired this week as Ocean City’s fourth city manager. Before coming to Ft. Pierce in 2005 as its deputy city manager and becoming city manager in 2008, Recor, a credentialed manager with the International City/County Manager Association, was the deputy director of Planning & Community Development from 2003 to 2005 for Fairfax, Va.; planning and land use director for...READ MORE

Diakonia Dine Out A Success

OCEAN CITY -- Numbers for the 1st Annual Dine Out With Diakonia are in and organizers are calling the event a strong success; good news coming on the heels of several already successful weeks for the non-profit group. “It was really well attended … It worked out for everyone,” said Diakonia Executive Director Claudia Nagle. The newest project dreamed up by Diakonia’s events committee, Dine Out featured 26 local restaurants all contributing a portion of their sales or a...READ MORE

OC To Begin Charging For Phone, Radio Records

OCEAN CITY – With telephone records recently revealing questionable activity among City Council members, a policy was approved this week to charge for the release of records as well as in certain cases be reviewed by the city’s attorney for approval. According to Emergency Services Director Joseph Theobald, during budget hearings he had proposed the town implement a more formal policy for the disclosure of telephone and radio records out of the Ocean City’s Public Safety...READ MORE

City Council Tweaks New Rental Sticker Law

OCEAN CITY – A request to waive the rental license door sticker requirement this week led to other changes made to the recently approved law aimed at regulating certain aspects of the local rental industry. In February, the Mayor and City Council approved the Noise Board’s request to implement a sticker system based on the Property Control Number, which each property in Ocean City is assigned. A database has been created providing a police officer the ability to search by the control...READ MORE

22nd Annual Cruisin Underway In OC Area

OCEAN CITY -- One of the largest hot rod shows on the East Coast, the 22nd Annual Cruisin Ocean City, returned yesterday to Ocean City and will continue through the weekend. The nationally recognized event attracts more than 3,500 customs, hot rods, street machines, classics and more from over 20 states plus Canada. The 22nd Annual Cruisin will have more than 10,000 event participants taking part in various car shows at the Convention Center on 40th Street, the downtown Inlet parking lot and...READ MORE

Local Engineering Students Planning To ‘Break The Mold’

SNOW HILL -- The world of engineering isn’t just a boys club, at least not according to three female seniors who are studying the field at the Worcester County Technical High School (WTHS). “We’re trying to break the mold,” said Dianna Vogel, a Snow Hill High School student who has been involved in WTHS’ pre-engineering program since its inception four years ago. “It was really some kind of mystical thing,” said Vogel of engineering at first...READ MORE

Berlin Looking To Embrace Weddings

BERLIN -- Berlin’s best kept secret won’t be a secret for long if several businesses get to fill their hearts’ desire this June. Berlin’s best kept secret is that it won’t be long before couples who “Say I Do” begin living happily ever after with a one-of-a-kind Berlin wedding. For several weeks, businesses from Berlin and the surrounding area have been collaborating on how to best make Berlin a wedding destination for the mid-Atlantic region. “We...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Ad Outrages Citizens Editor: Students at Stephen Decatur High School are in shock over the paid advertisement that was released in the Friday, May 11 issue. Richard Ferro and Garrett Magaha are popularly known as favorite teachers, coaches and colleagues throughout the school. Ferro and Magaha were recently recognized by student votes for various teacher superlatives in the school newspaper "The Hawk." Ferro received the superlatives of "Best Personality" and "Best...READ MORE

Why Did We Print Bullying Ad?

Dear Readers, A paid advertisement that ran in last week’s issue has stirred up a firestorm of controversy. The level of angst and extreme hostility aimed toward this newspaper has been startling at times, particularly last weekend when I was verbally berated in an expletive-laden tirade by the husband of a teacher who threatened and promised to ruin this company. Dozens of emails and phone calls and a few other personal confrontations, of varying intensities, have followed since last...READ MORE

Who's Playing When And Where

28th Street Pit and Pub 410-289-2020 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, May 18:Slim DeNunn & The High Rollers, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, May 19: Bryan Russo, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday, May 20: 2 Year Anniversary Party with Mark & Friends Wednesday, May 23: Zion Reggae Band, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Every Thursday: DJ Jeremy 45th Street TapHouse Bar & Grille 443-664-2201 45th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, May 18: Brant Quick, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 19: Honu, 7-11 p.m. Sunday, May 20: DJ Rupe, 1-5...READ MORE

SD High School Seniors National Financial Capablility Challenge Top Winners

Stephen Decatur High School senior Andrew Snyder and junior Alycia Skarzinski were top winners in the annual National Financial Capability Challenge. Skarzinski received a score of 98 percent, breaking the school record for female participants. Snyder was one of only 583 students out of over 80,000 across the country who achieved a perfect score overall. ...READ MORE

Showell Elementary Students Learn About Sharks

Students in Heather Hand's third grade class at Showell Elementary School learned about all types of sharks. Students were proud to share their Power Point slides with their classmates and parents. ...READ MORE

Worcester County Fine Arts Festival Held At SH High

The Worcester County Fine Arts Festival was held last month at Snow Hill High School to showcase the finest of visual art from all county schools of all ages. Pictured are Ocean City Elementary School kindergarten students Abigail Melito, Gracie Bernstein and Shamus Engh showing their art displayed at the festival. ...READ MORE

SD Students Participate In Red Shoe Shuffle 5K

Stephen Decatur High School students Meya Chilengi and Kayla Alcantar participated in the inaugural Red Shoe Shuffle 5K last month to support the Ronald McDonald House and Brooke Shockley, a local teen who is fighting cancer and a current resident at the Ronald McDonald House. Brooke’s team from the Eastern Shore surpassed everyone with the most members (145) and the most money raised ($11,000). Pictured are Tess Boettger, Chilengi, Kelley Barbre, Casey Ross, Bonnie Bloxom and Alcantar. ...READ MORE

Students Selected For Cum Laude Society At Worcester Preparatory School

Students selected for induction into the prestigious Cum Laude Society at Worcester Preparatory School were, front from left, Talha Ehtasham, Casey Knerr, Katherine Pavlos, Meredith Soule´ and Elizabeth Sayan; second row, Catherine Reilly, Riddhi Sanwal, Ellie Brown, Erin Royal, Matteo Petrera and Katelin Talbert. To be eligible for Cum Laude, students must score in the top percentiles of their class in College Board testing and GPAs. ...READ MORE

Optimist Club Oratorical Winners Announced

The Optimist Club Oratorical winners were recently announced. Gold medalists were Keeyan Pando and Amanda Gabriel. Pictured, from left, are Pando, Gabriel, Scott Deveny [bronze], Marcy Dolan [silver], Zac Cioccio [silver] and Claire Dorey [bronze]. Over 35 students participated in the Optimist Club's 40th Oratorical Contest. Photo by John Harris ...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School Celebrates Arts Night

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School celebrated Arts Night 2012 on May 10. The school celebrated its Arts Integration Program with a display of fine art, music and science presentations. Above, fourth graders Karsten St. Amant, Kiley Hamby and Cooper Houck stand with their color pencil "Design Your Own Solar System" drawings. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Bow Out of 3A-2A South

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team bowed out of the state Class 3A-2A South region tournament this week, falling to host Queen Anne’s, 14-9, to close out what was otherwise another successful season for the Seahawks. When the brackets were released last week, the Decatur girls drew a number-two seed in the eastern sectional of the 3A-2A South region and a first-round bye. In the second round, the Seahawks drew another date with Bennett, the three-seed in the...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Win Bayside Championship

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity track and field teams did well in the Bayside Championships last week with the girls’ team finishing first and the boys’ team finishing a close second. The Decatur girls, led by strong performances in the field events, finished the Bayside Championship meet with 167 total team points, while Kent Island was second with 130.5 and Queen Anne’s was third with 77. Katrina Purnell led the Seahawks with several first place finishes including the...READ MORE

Worcester Girls Fall in ESIAC Final

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team lost a heartbreaker last week, falling to old rival Saints Peter and Paul, 9-8, in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament final on a penalty shot with under a minute remaining in the game. Last Thursday, the Mallards routed Gunston, 20-9, in the ESIAC semifinals to earn a shot at Saints Peter and Paul in the tournament championship. The Sabres had beaten the Mallards in the last three tournament...READ MORE

Seahawks Edge Centennial to Advance

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity softball team stayed alive in the state Class 3A-East tournament last week, beating visiting Centennial, 5-4, in the first round to advance. The Seahawks entered the state regional tournament as the number-seven seed in the 3A-East region tournament when the brackets were released last week and earned a matchup with 10th-seeded Centennial in the first-round. Decatur beat the Eagles, 5-4, last week as Jessica Iacona went the distance on the mound in the...READ MORE

Seahawks Drop Out with Loss to Lions

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys varsity lacrosse team’s magical season ended with a dramatic 12-11 loss to Queen Anne’s in the District 8 sectional of the state’s Class 3A-2A region tournament. The Seahawks beat Kent Island, 10-9, in the Bayside Conference title game last week and earned a number-two seed in the District 8 sectional of the 3A-2A East tournament. After both teams got a first round bye, Decatur hosted Queen Anne’s at home last Friday in the second...READ MORE

Mallards Cruise to Tournament Title

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity lacrosse team punctuated another successful season by breezing through the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament including a 14-1 win over Salisbury School in the championship game. Worcester beat Delmarva Christian, 18-2 in the semifinals before closing out Salisbury School, 14-1, in the championship game. The Mallards outscored the conference tournament foes by a combined 32-3. Against Delmarva Christian in the...READ MORE

Seahawks Fall to Centennial, 9-2

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity baseball team’s remarkable season came to a close on Monday with a 9-2 upset loss to Centennial in the state Class 3A-East Region quarterfinals at home. Decatur entered the 3A-East tournament as the number-three seed and appeared to be on a collision course with Bayside Conference rival Bennett for the region tournament. However, the Seahawks fell to visiting Centennial, 9-2, on Monday, ending what was otherwise a highly successful season. Decatur...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

G. Warren “Moose” Mix BALTIMORE — George Warren "Moose" Mix Sr., a well-known Towson attorney whose legal expertise included administrative, criminal and family law, died May 4 of heart failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The 30-year Lutherville resident was 74. "I knew Warren when I was a prosecutor and later as a defense attorney, and he was often in three jurisdictions during a single day. He was a stand-up, honest and hardworking guy when it came to his...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Employees Of Year Honored SALISBURY -- Rosie Harmon, a patient care technician, and Vance Webster, a telecommunications technician, were recently named the 2012 Employees of the Year at Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s annual employee recognition banquet held in conjunction with National Hospital Week. While presenting the Employees of the Year award to each, President/CEO Dr. Peggy Naleppa described both as extremely patient and customer oriented, with a dedication to making sure that...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A stubborn refusal to go ahead on a project mystifies colleagues who expected more flexibility. But once you explain your position, they'll understand and even applaud you. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): A relationship seems to be stuck in the same place. Now it's up to you, dear Bovine, to decide how far you want it to go and how intense you want it to be. Choose well and choose soon. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A relationship progresses more slowly than you would...READ MORE

Things I Like

A passionate conversation This year’s young Orioles team Smell of a lacrosse stick’s strings Fresh grouper Little League players all decked out in their clean uniforms The Hotel DuPont in Wilmington A sunny weekend forecast Downloading new music for my iPod Taking a bottle of frozen water to the beach People who like to garden My kids’ faces on a sliding board ...READ MORE

BB&T Bank Presents Grant Check To Worcester County Veterans Memorial Instructional Program

Jody Falter, representing BB&T Bank, presented a grant check for $1,000 to the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines Instructional Program for fifth grade students. The money will provide transportation to and from the memorial. Pictured, from left, are Ed Little, chairman of the Instructional Program; Arlene Page, grant writer; Falter; Marie Gilmore, president, Veterans Memorial; Sharyn O'Hare, Board member; and Lou Etta Mclaflin, Instructional Program volunteer. ...READ MORE

Showell Elementary Third Graders Donate Their Hair

Showell Elementary School third graders TJ Bescak and Jaiden Denk recently donated their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. The 9-year-old boys wanted to help people who have lost their hair due to cancer.  ...READ MORE

Community Foundation Awards Community Needs Grant To LSLT

Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore awarded a Community Needs Grant to Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT), Inc. to support efforts to increase the public’s awareness regarding land preservation on the Eastern Shore. During LSLT’s 21 years of operation, landowners have been assisted in preserving over 16,000 acres of land on 94 private properties throughout the Lower Eastern Shore. Pictured above, from left, are Spicer Bell, President, Community Foundation; Christy Hallman, Program...READ MORE

OC Elementary Students Celebrate Arbor Day

Arbor Day is celebrated each year with second graders from Ocean City Elementary School at Northside Park. Each class does a skit mostly about trees. At the end of the program they plant a tree in the park. Ocean City Elks provide Elroy the Elk for the children's entertainment and Drug Awareness Bags. Pictured, from left, are Mollie Spicer, Ryan Sweeney, Brooklyn Durhn, Logan Patrick, Jannesha Carson and Bahar Yucel, and, back, Exalted Ruler Shawn Smith, Elroy Joey Lessman and...READ MORE

SD Holds Light It Up Blue Day To Support Autism Awareness

Stephen Decatur Middle School recently held “Light It Up Blue” Day to support Autism awareness. The students dressed in blue to show their support while the teachers paid to wear blue “casual clothes.” Pictured, from left, are Kate Lutz, a special education teacher, and Lois Davis, special education teacher and case manager for students with Autism, present a check from the proceeds to Autistic Children’s Support Group of Worcester County President Wendy Dibuo...READ MORE